On the first anniversary of the Democrats’ costly, unpopular health care overhaul, Wisconsinites are once again reminded that liberal U.S. Senator Herb Kohl (D-WI) ignored their concerns and helped his Democrat party bosses in Washington ram the massive bill through the Senate on a straight party line.

Upon its passage, surveys showed that Americans overwhelmingly objected to ObamaCare, voicing strong concerns that it would result in higher costs and a lower quality of care. But Kohl ignored Wisconsinites’ concerns, and despite Democrats’ repeated promises that Americans would come to embrace the law, ObamaCare remains extremely unpopular a year later.

A recent Bloomberg survey shows that 65 percent of Americans oppose the law’s onerous “individual mandate,” while a CNN survey earlier this year showed that only 6 percent of Americans favor the Obama-Kohl health care overhaul as a whole. Another survey released by CNN today shows that 59 percent of Americans remain opposed to the law – exactly the same level of opposition CNN found a year ago.

Meanwhile, Americans were proven correct in their concerns as – in addition to cutting Medicare by $500 billion and raising taxes by $570 billion – the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) recently estimated that the Obama-Kohl health care law will increase federal deficits by $260 billion through 2019.

“The health care law’s one-year anniversary is a stark reminder to Wisconsinites that when it mattered most, Senator Kohl ignored their concerns and helped President Obama ram his costly overhaul into law on a straight party line,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Chris Bond. “As he attempts to promote himself as fiscally responsible in advance of his reelection bid, voters won’t forget that Kohl’s health care law actually raises federal deficits by hundreds of billions of dollars. It’s clear that Wisconsinites will hold Kohl accountable at the polls for his broken promises and liberal Washington record.”

Background Information

AMERICANS DIDN’T LIKE OBAMACARE WHEN IT WAS PASSED…

“Nearly Two-Thirds Of Americans Say The Health Care Overhaul Signed Into Law Last Week Costs Too Much.” “Nearly two-thirds of Americans say the health care overhaul signed into law last week costs too much and expands the government’s role in health care too far, a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds, underscoring an uphill selling job ahead for President Obama and congressional Democrats.” (Susan Page, “Poll: Americans Say Health Care Overhaul Will Increase Deficit, Hurt Quality of Medical Care,” USA Today, 3/30/10)

· With Most Predicting Higher Costs And Lower Quality Of Care. “When it comes to their families, they see less gain and more pain: Pluralities say it will make coverage and quality of care worse for them. By 50%-21%, they predict it will make their costs higher.” (Susan Page, “Poll: Americans Say Health Care Overhaul Will Increase Deficit, Hurt Quality of Medical Care,” USA Today, 3/30/10)

· And Over Half Said The Way Democrats Passed The Bill Was “An Abuse Of Power.” “There was a strong reaction against the tactics Democratic leaders used to pass the bill. A 53% majority call Democratic methods ‘an abuse of power;’ 40% say they are appropriate.” (Susan Page, “Poll: Americans Say Health Care Overhaul Will Increase Deficit, Hurt Quality of Medical Care,” USA Today, 3/30/10)

DEMOCRATS PROMISED THAT WOULD CHANGE…

Nancy Pelosi: “We Have To Pass The Bill So You Can Find Out What Is In It.” (Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Speech Before The Legislative Conference for National Association of Counties,3/9/10)

David Axelrod Said Democrats Would “Be Able To Campaign Proudly” On The Issue. “The White House told naysayers that public sentiment would become more favorable and turn out to be a political plus for Democrats this fall. Democrats would ‘be able to campaign proudly’ on the legislation, White House senior aide David Axelrod said at the time.”(Peter A. Brown, “Health Care Continues to Wound Democrats,” The Wall Street Journal, 8/10/10)

· “Democrats Also Argue That Public Support For The Law Will Grow Once The Benefits Begin To Kick In This Year.” (Alexander Bolton, “Schumer: Those Who Voted Against Healthcare Will Be Hurt In November,” The Hill, 3/28/10)

Obama’s Pollster Said Americans Would Like ObamaCare Once It’s Passed. “President Barack Obama’s pollster said the healthcare bill will win over public support once it becomes law despite polls showing Americans against the plan. … ‘When it comes to health care and insurance, once reform passes, the tangible benefits Americans will realize will trump the fear-mongering rhetoric opponents are stoking today,’ Benenson wrote in a Washington Post op-ed Saturday.” (Walter Alarkon, “Obama Pollster: US Will Like Healthcare Bill, Despite Poll Numbers,” The Hill, 3/13/10)

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius Said The American People Just Didn’t Understand The Law, But When They Did They’d Be “Enthusiastic” About ObamaCare. “Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius says that, despite a new CBS News poll showing widespread skepticism and confusion, Americans will be ‘enthusiastic’ about the health reform bill passed by the House of Representatives once they understand it. ‘I think what’s been going on for the better part of a year is a lot of attempts to confuse and scare Americans,’ Sebelius told ‘Early Show’ co-anchor Maggie Rodriguez.” (Tucker Reals, “Sebelius: Americans Will Embrace Health Reform,” CBS News, 3/22/10)

Obama Advisor Valerie Jarrett: “We Are Confident That The American People Will Support This” Because “It’s Good For Them.” “Valerie Jarrett, a senior adviser to President Barack Obama, said people will begin to support the law when they learn more about it because ‘it’s good for them.’ ‘We are confident that the American people will support this,’ Jarrett said on ABC’s ‘This Week.’” (Alexander Bolton, “Schumer: Those Who Voted Against Healthcare Will Be Hurt In November,” The Hill, 3/28/10)

Sen. Jon Tester: “The More Time People Have To See What Is In There, They Will See There Is Not The Boogeyman In There That They Have Been Told.” (Matt Gouras, “Tester revs up crowd as Democrat eyes heavyweight challenge from well-known Rehberg,” Associated Press, 03/12/2011)

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY): “‘It’s Going To Become More Popular And Here’s Why,’ Schumer Said. ‘The Lies That Have Been Spread, They Vanish Because You See What’s In The Bill.’”(Alexander Bolton, “Schumer: Those Who Voted Against Healthcare Will Be Hurt In November,” The Hill, 3/28/10)

· Sen. Schumer: “I Predict That By November Those Who Voted For Healthcare Will Find It An Asset And Those Who Voted Against It Will Find It A Liability.”(Alexander Bolton, “Schumer: Those Who Voted Against Healthcare Will Be Hurt In November,” The Hill, 3/28/10)

ONE YEAR LATER, OBAMACARE IS JUST AS UNPOPULAR AS EVER…

65 Percent Of Americans Oppose ObamaCare’s Individual Mandate. (Bloomberg, 1,001 A, MoE 3.1%, 3/4-7/11)

41 Percent Of Americans Think ObamaCare Should Be Repealed. (Bloomberg, 1,001 A, MoE 3.1%, 3/4-7/11)

· Only 12 Percent think It Should Be Left Alone. (Bloomberg, 1,001 A, MoE 3.1%, 3/4-7/11)

50 Percent Of Americans Oppose Most Or All Of ObamaCare. (CNN Opinion Research, 1,014 A MoE 3%, 1/14-16/11)

· Only 6 Percent Of Americans Favor The Entire Bill. (CNN Opinion Research, 1,014 A MoE 3%, 1/14-16/11)

50 Percent Of Americans Want All Of ObamaCare Repealed. (CNN Opinion Research, 1,014 A MoE 3%, 1/14-16/11)